NorCal basketball: Priory off to state finals for first time

PORTOLA VALLEY — The celebration on the campus of Woodside Priory may be going on for some time. The top-seeded Panthers rallied from behind to edge No. 11 Bradshaw Christian 59-58 for the NorCal Division IV girls basketball title on Saturday evening, igniting mass mayhem.

When Priory (17-14) takes on Rolling Hills Prep (30-2) of San Pedro at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Friday at 10 a.m, it will mark the first-ever appearance in a state championship by the Panthers in the sport.

“This game brought me tears,” said Priory point guard Tatiana Reese, the lone senior on the roster, her eyes welled-up. “It’s the first time we’re going to state. Only our volleyball team has made it to state.”

Priory coach Buck Matthews, who pocketed the Central Coast Section Division V crown this year, has built the Panthers into a small-school power in just four seasons. Yet, taking out Bradshaw Christian (22-13) was not an easy task, by no means. The Pride, which played mostly five players, sporting just one reserve, proved to be a skilled and lightning-quick contingent.

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“The best thing I liked about them was their confidence,” Matthews said. “They didn’t care. Oh, my God. Jordan Patterson, a sophomore, came down and got a three with about a minute left. That’s big-time. Hat’s off to Bradshaw Christian, amazing coach, amazing girls. Unfortunately, someone had to lose.”

The Pride had one last chance after Reese missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw situation with 6.5 seconds to play. BC pushed the ball up quickly before a Panther knocked it out of bounds with 1.1 showing on the game clock. The Pride’s Cookie Marques let fly from the right corner, then tumbled to the ground, her shot short of the rim.

No foul was called as Priory players rushed to each other in sweet glee.

Reese, held scoreless in the first half by Patterson — a stalwart defender — accounted for what proved to be the game-winner. Playing the entire fourth quarter with four fouls, she drove the length of the court down the left flank for a layin with less than 30 seconds to play, the Panthers up 59-56.

Yet, scoring appeared to elude her most of the night.

Reese had a 3-pointer go down after a Priory timeout, as she remained without a point. Later she scored on a layin, but a foul was called before the shot. Her first basket came on a drive, the Panthers trailing 36-29.

“I tried to impact the game different ways,” said Reese, who finished with eight points, seven rebounds and a handful of assists in her final home game. “Not just by scoring, but rebounding and giving assists to my teammates.”

The Panthers’ main strategy was a good one, lob the ball into 6-foot-4 center Ila Lane, who aptly dominated in the lane at both ends. Lane, a coveted junior, had 24 points, 13 rebounds and three steals, personally wrecking The Pride, which couldn’t match up height-wise.

Matthews might make sure a limousine is available for Lane as the team travels to Sacramento.

“Ila carried us,” Matthews said. “Bradshaw Christian did a good job neutralizing her in the first half. She had no touches. She did a good job of staying composed. She told me at halftime, ‘Give me the damn ball.’ ”

“We handled the pressure,” Lane said. “Even though we were down, we were able to create a new game plan. We made adjustments. Bradshaw Christian was a tough team.”

Down 33-23 at intermission, Priory closed the lead to six on a pair of free throws from Lane and two more from Gabby Ruiz, who had eight points and eight rebounds in a stellar supporting role.

“That was the best game of Gabby’s career,” Matthews said. “She carried us in the first half.”

Lane assisted Dominique Robson for a 3-pointer from the right quarter. The Pride, as it did all game, answered with a 3-pointer from Jasalyn Brown to beat the third-period horn.

Brown had 13 points, while Patterson had 15.

The lead went back-and-forth in the fourth period with Priory jumping ahead for the first time on two free throws by Reese with 5:54 to play. Reese assisted Ruiz for a hoop, tying the game 51-all with 3:20 left.

A pass from Lane to Lala Niu turned into a crucial hoop, the Panthers ahead 55-53. Niu, who blew a kiss after every basket she scored, had 13 points. Niu is Reese’s second cousin.

“I was blowing a kiss to my God-sister, Tatiana Tuipulotu, who recently passed away,” Niu said. “And I wanted to win for my cousin, Tatiana (Reese). She helped build this program. I wanted to send her off right.”

The Pride suffered a tough break when Anaya Meija went down with what appeared to be a leg cramp with 31,3 seconds remaining. Meija, who led The Pride with 17 points, had to be carried off the floor.

“Talk about a Division I player,” said Matthews of Meija. “She’s amazing.”

The Panthers prevailed despite turning the ball over 20 times to only five turnovers for The Pride. Priory’s 13-of-15 showing at the FT line helped immensely.